Tornadoes run past Midgets in overtime

Visitors out-score ELC 10-2 in OT

January 22, 2013

Admittedly, basketball teams make their own luck. But the ball should still bounce your way more often at home.

The Estherville Lincoln Central boys watched several shots rim out against Storm Lake on Tuesday, but the Midgets still came up with a late rally to force overtime.

For the Tornadoes, it was their second overtime contest in as many games after losing to Spirit Lake on Friday.

Article Photos

ELC senior Jeff Perkins (30) looks for space to pass or drive against the Storm Lake defense in Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Tornadoes.EDN photo by David Swartz

After scoring just four points in the fourth quarter, Storm Lake scored six points in the first minute of overtime and won 50-42.

ELC started the night well enough, taking a 7-2 lead with contributions from Derek Nieland, Evan Hansen, Tucker Milburn and Brad Olsen.

But five straight points by Storm Lake's Aaron Krier tied the game at 7-7.

ELC took the lead on two free throws by Tyler Swanson as the Midgets led 9-7 after one quarter.

Storm Lake started the second quarter with a 6-0 run, but ELC again worked its way back into the contest.

ELC retook the lead on a basket by Swanson with 3:08 remaining in the half. The lead exchanged hands five time before the break with Jeff Perkins taking in a layup right before the buzzer to give ELC a 23-22 edge.

Storm Lake came out quickly and scored the first eight points of the third quarter to take a 30-23 lead.

ELC finally got a shot by David Hughes to fall. Then Swanson scored and Adam Reiter came up with a steal. He knocked down a 3-pointer on the possession to tie the game at 30-30.

But the visitors ended the period on a 6-0 run to lead 36-30.

ELC erased that lead in the fourth quarter with 3-pointers from Hughes and Reiter and again took the lead on a basket by Swanson.

But Storm Lake came back with their only four points of the period to lead 40-38.

A basket by Hughes tied the game at 40-40.

When Storm Lake tried to go for the lead, Nieland came up with a steal and had 21 seconds to get a shot.

But Matt Burrell's shot was short and he was also called for traveling.

In the extra period, Storm Lake freshman Kuony Deng scored a quick basket and an ELC turnover led to a layup by Krier. Deng scored again before Hughes scored ELC's only basket of the extra frame.

Hughes led ELC with 11 points, Reiter, Hansen and Swanson each had eight points, Nieland, Perkins and Milburn each had two and Olsen had one.

ELC was 5-of-10 from the free throw line and shot none in the second half.

Ethan Kinkel led Storm Lake with 13 points and Deng had 10. The Tornadoes were 8-of-13 from the free throw line and out-rebounded ELC 43-32.

ELC (6-11 overall, 3-7 in the Lakes Conference) travels to Cherokee on Friday.